FRANCE | LFI Calls Anti-Macron Protests for 7 September

GR contingent on the Rouen demonstration on 15 June 2024

Let’s get rid of Macron and his policy for the ultra-rich with it!

Through our struggles, let’s demand a real salary, a real job and decent and accessible housing for all!

On September 7 and beyond, let’s build a great mobilisation and fight in our workplaces, studies and neighbourhoods!

For the majority of us, workers and our families, for young people, living and working conditions are getting worse. President Macron’s policies are clearly degrading our lives. Its only objective is to protect the capitalists at all costs. These are the same capitalists who are putting pressure on them to limit wages and toughen working conditions, despite the explosion in energy and food prices and the lack of workers in many sectors. At the same time, public services such as education and health are being devastated by years of budget cuts. We’re fed up!

The shenanigans of Macron and the far-right National Rally stopped!

Macron’s authoritarian drift had already worsened since COVID, but now he is turning a corner. He decides everything on his own and manipulates the institutions to protect his capitalist friends. The dissolution and the so-called consultations only serve to prevent a more pro-worker policy from being pursued (see below).

By their majority vote for the New Popular Front (NFP), a large part of the young people and a part of the workers contradicted Macron’s plans! Indeed, a Macron-Bardella government was the promise of an even more violent policy against workers, young people and the majority of the population, and more measures against our living conditions, our rights, with even more racism and divisions.

But we have no illusions in this system either because these institutions of the 5th Republic allow such an anti-democratic functioning. The proof is again made that these are institutions that are only made to protect the bourgeoisie and the capitalists.

Consultation, alliances, rejection of the NFP… Macron doesn’t want us to rush into the breach!

Macron is now looking for all possible alliances with parties and politicians ready to carry out a policy for the capitalists, from the right to the Socialist Party (PS). The capitalists and Macron, their stooge, do not even want a New Popular Front (NFP) government, whose measures are very limited and not revolutionary, for fear that it will open a breach and that more will be demanded. And they spend their time demonising France Insoumise (LFI), the largest component of the NFP, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, LFI’s leader. But their little game has limits!

The political crisis is open. This is a moment that workers and young people must seize. Because Macron and the capitalists are weakened. To emerge stronger from this political crisis, we must take action ourselves and defend our interests against them!

Let’s prepare the response to Macron and the capitalists together!

The anger is very strong. It must be organised and given a common perspective and content. LFI and other organisations are calling for demonstrations on Saturday, September 7 throughout the country against Macron and his coup. LFI is right and we join this first mobilisation! To hold on and win, it will be necessary to anchor the mobilisation and build powerful and militant strikes around real demands

  • For a massive increase in wages, for the freezing of prices and the return to retirement at 60!
  • Against all the plans for layoffs and site closures! For the renationalisation of all privatised sectors under the control and management of the workers and the complete cessation of privatisations!
  • For a common struggle of workers and young people against racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination!
  • For a new party of workers’ and youth that struggles for socialism!
  • Against war and imperialism for international workers’ solidarity!
  • To put an end to capitalism, for socialism!

A large part of the workers did not turn out to the elections, disgusted with the politicians who only take care of the capitalists. Few illusions exist in the NFP, and rightly so: we have not forgotten the years of pro-capitalist policies carried out by the PS, in government as under Hollande, or in the municipalities, the departments…

On the other hand, everyone is concerned about our living and working conditions, our retirement, the future of young people. Like political parties such as France Insoumise, the unions that organise workers in the workplaces must build and strengthen a determined mobilisation in each sector, in a unitary way when possible!

To organise the fightback, join Gauche Révolutionnaire (Revolutionary Left)!

The political moment is intense again. This is why our fight against Macron, the National Rally (RN) and the capitalists cannot be carried out without being organised, coordinated and without a combative program of struggle against the capitalists.

It is the capitalist system that, all over the world, is leading to chaos, from the genocidal war in Gaza to the escalation of war in Ukraine that brings to power increasingly authoritarian and reactionary governments as in Tunisia, Argentina, India, Nigeria, etc.

Gauche Révolutionnaire fights to rid humanity and the planet of what is at the heart of the capitalist system: the exploitation of a majority of human beings for the profits of a handful of big capitalists such as Musk, Arnault, Bolloré… This society generates more and more injustices and discriminations to divide us: racism, sexism, discrimination related to gender, sexual orientation…

The majority of the population, workers, and youth have common interests, the most fundamental of which is to put an end to capitalism by laying the foundations of a socialist society.

Gauche Révolutionnaire fights around a Marxist program: revolutionary, socialist and internationalist with our international organisation the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). To join Gauche Révolutionnaire is to be in a militant and active organisation, a tool to fight back collectively and to train politically at the same time. Contact us, come and chat and join us!

*** *** ***

Below is the text of a leaflet distributed by Gauche Révolutionnaire activists at La France Insoumise’s recent Summer University event, AmFis, on 22-25 August 2024.

Declaration of Gauche Révolutionnaire for LFI’s 2024 AmFis

Strengthen our camp and put an end to Macron’s policies!

The Olympics have not succeeded in completely overshadowing a very unstable global situation. On the one hand, there is the barbarism of war and imperialism, but on the other there is also resistance. Revolution in Bangladesh, massive anti-racist demonstrations in the United Kingdom, revolt against rising prices in Kenya, still enormous anger in the world in the face of the massacre in Gaza and the governments that support it. In addition, the economic situation is also very unstable, with very low growth. The ruling classes fear that workers, the poor masses and the youth will revolt, which is why more authoritarian governments are being put in place. France is no exception, with Macron behaving more and more like a Bonaparte.

In France, the European election in June and the surprise legislative elections called by Macron marked this intense and unstable political period. All of them saw Macron’s defeat! The anger is very strong! However, since last year’s AmFIs, we have had a kind of “blank year” in terms of struggles against Macron and the capitalists. They, on the other hand, have been on the offensive: destruction of unemployment insurance, selection for college etc. and their constant racist politics and propaganda against the backdrop of the war in Gaza. LFI, unlike other political forces, has remained very mobilised, especially in the streets: against racism, the genocide in Gaza etc. This explains the dynamic of the last few months, with young people in particular, students and/or employees joining LFI. We must continue this momentum to thwart the RN and stop Macron. With his resigned government, he is continuing his policy against public services and our rights. Just look at the state of hospitals this summer!

The NFP measures applied by a future government?

Faced with the threat of an RN majority in the assembly and a Macron-Bardella government, the NFP electoral alliance was created around a series of measures. Measures expected by a good number of workers in the face of rising prices, low wages and the destruction of public services. An increase in the minimum wage and wages, the repeal of the retirement age of 64, the end of the conflict in Ukraine and the massacre in Gaza…

But to make it a real program against Macron, the RN and the capitalists, many other measures would be needed, such as the renationalisation of the privatised sectors – energy in particular! – and this, under the control and management of employees and users. This is crucial to directly attack the interests of the big bosses and the ultra-rich. Macron, Bardella or Cazeneuve, etc. serve them!

Macron doesn’t want the NFP to be in government, because they don’t even want an increase in the minimum wage. He also knows that the anger of workers and youth could very well rush into any breach. But there is great instability everywhere, including in Parliament. And we remember the five years of Hollande-Valls-Macron… If the PS returns to government, it will manage it for the capitalists. Some could ally with Macron, the same thing for some of the Greens. But if they hesitate, it’s more for fear of exposing themselves ahead of the municipal elections of 2026…

 At the beginning of the school year, in action, to impose our demands and get rid of Macron and all his politics with it!

LFI defends a policy and a government that is a decisive break with Macron and his government, and is against any national coalition with the Macronists. We, the rebels, would surely be very useful to discuss and convince in the workplaces and in our activities of the need to fight and fight all together to win our case. Because that’s where you win, when workers and young people take action and push for a break. The NFP is currently unable to impose this. Part of the PS shares a pro-capitalist program close to the Macronists. Concentrating the whole battle on the fact of being in government and on the basis of fluctuating majorities and legislative texts is not our role. Macron, like a little Bonaparte, can impose a large part of the legislation. The answer to his authoritarianism will not be through the Constitution (including impeachment which is designed never to succeed).

LFI wants to change society and must deploy its program everywhere outside of elections. Of course there is the battle in the Assembly, but above all it must call for mobilising, for building the balance of forces through the construction of struggles, including strikes, with all the union, associative and political forces that want to do so to make Macron and the capitalists give in on their policies.

How can the FI strengthen those who want to resist?

Macron and the capitalists have a system designed to save them. What force can transform society? Workers keep society running every day and are exploited so that the big bosses can reap their profits. It is the working class that can play the decisive role in putting an end to capitalism and all the oppression and destruction of the planet that it causes.

This is why LFI should clearly orient itself towards the workers and seek to establish itself there: to discuss among the rebellious what is happening in our workplaces and our unions, how to push for coordinated action and mobilisation. During the elections, young people and trade unionists decided to organise and campaign as best they could to stop the RN while fighting Macron’s policies. It is to them that we must address today!

La France Insoumise should launch a call for a new party!

Our struggles have not succeeded in stopping Macron in 2023 and the RN has been able to take advantage of the situation. We lack a political tool capable of transmitting experiences, collectively drawing lessons and advancing a programme in the face of the capitalists and the parties that serve them. This is the role that LFI has been fulfilling for eight years, particularly at the time of the elections and partially by mobilising, as in September 2022 against the pension reform and from October 2023 against the massacre in Gaza. The genocidal war in Gaza was a turning point and created awareness. LFI must be useful to go further. Because it is a whole system based on the exploitation of the majority of the population, for the profits of a minority of capitalists, that creates wars and misery that must be fought.

 To thwart the rise of the RN and stop Macron and Co., it is time for LFI to contribute to a new political milestone by addressing all those who want to fight.

We need a new political force that is more solid than LFI. This is true in terms of local presence, involvement in trade unions and the world of work. This is also the case in the way it operates, which must allow all its members to be involved in political reflections and decisions and action to collectively face a very unstable and volatile situation. LFI should take the initiative to launch such a broad and inclusive party, a place for discussion and action.

We need a combative party that is equal to the situation in terms of program and construction. A party of class struggle on an anti-capitalist and truly socialist program in the face of all parties that serve the capitalist ruling classes.

  • A job for all with the 32 hours/week and an increase in salaries
  • Retirement at 60 years old max with 37.5 years
  • Decent and affordable housing for all
  • Let’s take the profits of the CAC 40 to invest and hire massively in public services
  • Nationalisation of the main sectors of society (health, energy, transport, mass distribution, banks, etc.) under the control and democratic management of the workers in connection with the population
  • For a common struggle of workers and young people against racism, sexism and all forms of discrimination
  • against war and imperialism, for international workers’ solidarity
  • To put an end to capitalism, for socialism

Join Gauche Révolutionnaire!

Gauche Révolutionnaire fights for the creation of such a mass party of workers and youth for socialism! We are questioning this necessity in La France Insoumise, in which we have participated since its creation eight years ago, in the unions and in our activities.

To fight against capitalism and for a society free of exploitation, war, and discrimination of all kinds, and to implement a socialist program, we are building the Gauche Révolutionnaire, a revolutionary Marxist organisation, and its local branches in France. And around the world, we have sister organisations that are members of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).

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